I had been meaning to do an update on the Tuscon shootings a little sooner, but the ex-post-facto information regarding the victims, the memorial services and the assailant has been coming fast and furious. And each passing hour seems to undercut the media and Democrats initial narrative that the Tea Party or former Alaska governor Sarah Palin were involved.
President Obama addressed a crowd of roughly 14,000 at the University of Arizona campus in Tuscon on Wednesday night, breaking the news that Congresswoman Giffords had opened her eyes for the first time since Saturday's shooting that killed 6 people, wounded 14 and left the Congresswoman fighting for her life.
In all honesty, I thought it was a pretty good speech from President Obama. However, there were two things that bothered me tremendously. The cheering and applause when the President took to the podium seemed more reminiscent of a campaign rally or Daily Show taping than a somber memorial service. I know that Obama was the bearer of good news with that update about Congresswoman Giffords and praising one of Gifford's quick thinking interns for applying first aid on the spot, but that was well into his speech.
The President also had some line in his speech along the lines of 'While we may never know why the shooter did what he did', which set off some red flags for me. In a superbly delivered address about civility and toning down the hostile rhetoric, the cynic in me felt that he was leaving an opening for the likes of supporters and operatives along the lines of Paul Krugman, Congressman Clyburn, Sheriff Dupnik or the ensemble of MSNBC 'personalities' to continue blaming talk radio, the Tea Party and anybody to the right of Walter Mondale as being responsible for deadly, violent outbursts from moody, schizophrenic loners.
Meanwhile, the investigation into shooting suspect Jared Loughner continued. A search of his parent's home unearthed numerous handwritten notes with 'Die bitch' or 'my assassination' in a locked box that investigator's removed from the residence. Some of the writing was on a form letter or envelope that was addressed to him from Congresswoman Gifford's office dating back to 2007.
It was also revealed on Wednesday that Loughner was stopped by an Arizona Fish & Wildlife officer for running a red light the morning of his rampage. The officer took down his licence and registration number and upon seeing that there were no outstanding warrants, let him off with a verbal warning.
That was not his first run-in with police in the Tuscon area-
*In 2006, staff at Mountain View High School called Pima County Sheriff's deputies to report that Jared had shown up clearly intoxicated on campus.
*In 2007, he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after deputies found a marijuana pipe, rolling papers and a roach clip in a car that he was riding in.
*In 2008, he was arrested for vandalizing a road sign and fined $500 and sentenced to community service.
*In September 2010, the Pima County Community College suspended Jared after a number of run-ins with faculty and students raised the concern of the college's Administration. Teachers described him as 'creepy' with a 'dark personality' and some were concerned that arguments over grades would become physical. Campus police were summoned after Loughner disrupted a class by saying that his freedom of speech was being violated after a teacher told him he would only get half-credit for a late assignment. One of the responding officers said that through his training and experience, there was a likely 'mental health concern' involving Loughner.
A week after the incident, the College sent over two police officers with a letter informing him that he had been suspended. He barely acknowledged the officers, only saying 'I realize now that this is all a scam'.
*On Tuesday afternoon, Arizona governor Jan Brewer signed emergency legislation to stop members of Fred Phelp's Westboro Baptist Church from picketing the funeral services of 9 year old Christina Taylor Green who was killed in Saturday's shootings. Immediately after the attack, the excerable Phelps brood took to the internet to praise the shooting spree as an act of God and announced their plans to picket the services of Green. The law passed the Arizona legislature unanimously and was based in part on a 2008 Ohio statute meant to hinder protests at military funerals that Phelp's congregation and family have been known to picket.
The six killed on Saturday include:
The Honorable John M. Roll, 63 of Tuscon
Phyllis Schneck, 79 of Tuscon
Gabe Zimmerman, 30 of Tuscon
Christina Taylor Green, 9 of Tuscon
Dorwin Stoddard, 76 of Tuscon
Dorothy Morris, 76 of Oro Valley
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